BOGOTA, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Indigo Partners-backed budget carrier JetSMART Airlines said on Tuesday that it wanted to buy Colombian low-cost carrier Viva Air, in a move that if successful would scupper Viva’s plans to merge with Colombian flag carrier Avianca.<\/p>\n

Chile-based JetSMART Airlines said in a statement that it planned to open talks to buy the Colombian airline but it did not disclose how much it might pay to acquire Viva, nor its funding plans.<\/p>\n

JetSMART is part of private investor Indigo Partners’ portfolio of budget airlines alongside U. If you have any issues relating to where by and how to use evDEN EVE NAkLiYAt<\/a>, you can get in touch with us at our own web site. S.-based Frontier Airlines, Europe’s Wizz Air and Mexico’s Volaris.<\/p>\n

The Chilean carrier currently operates 79 routes across South America, including flights to Colombian capital Bogota as well as Medellin and Cali.<\/p>\n

“We believe that a merger between JetSMART and Viva Air will allow us to maintain the ultra-low-cost model in Colombia, helping to continue offering more routes at lower prices,” JetSMART Chief Executive<\/a> Estuardo Ortiz said in the statement.<\/p>\n

Colombia’s civil aviation regulator EvdEN Eve NAkLiyAt<\/a> initially rejected a proposed merger between Avianca and EVDEn EvE NAKliYaT<\/a> Viva in November on the grounds that it posed risks to competition in the sector and the welfare of consumers.<\/p>\n

Avianca and Viva filed an appeal the same month, proposing alternatives such as yielding some routes and granting better landing and take-off schedules to competitors.<\/p>\n

The regulator in January annulled the merger, citing procedural irregularities, and began the process anew without either company having to reapply.<\/p>\n

A possible merger between JetSMART and EvDeN EVe NakLiYAt<\/a> Viva would offer the best conditions<\/a> for competition in the market, evDEn EVE NakliYAt<\/a> Ortiz said, adding the airlines do not have competing routes in Colombia.<\/p>\n

Avianca and Viva did not respond immediately to requests for comment on JetSMART’s proposed deal.<\/p>\n

Viva faces a complex financial situation due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s rise in fuel prices and the devaluation of the Colombian peso.(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Jamie Freed)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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